Three dimensional display system

Abstract

A three dimensional display system includes a laser for generating a laser light signal. The signal is expanded and collimated using a traditional lens system and is directed to an acousto-optic modulator wherein it is modulated to generate a three dimensional image such as a holographic image. The modulation signal for the modulator is provided by a data processing system. The data processing system applies signals to the modulator that encode a diffraction pattern. The diffraction pattern is realized by the modulator upon application of the signals and the three dimensional image is produced by the modulated light signals. The image is demagnified by a demagnifier, and subsequently, imaged by a viewing lens. A horizontal scanner continuously multiplexes segments of the holographic image and compensates for the motion of segments across the modulator. A vertical scanner is provided to properly vertically position horizontal lines of the holographic image.

We claim: 
     
       1. A three dimensional display system, comprising: a) a modulator generating a diffraction grating corresponding to a three dimensional image;   b) a light source providing light signals that pass through the diffraction grating created at the modulator to generate modulated light signals;   c) demagnifying means demagnifying the modulated light signals from the modulator;   d) optics which aerially image the demagnified modulated light signals to display for viewing the three dimensional image produced by the demagnified output; and   e) a data processing system coupled to the acousto-optic modulator for dictating the diffraction pattern generated by the modulator.   
     
     
       2. A three dimensional display system as recited in claim 1 wherein the three dimensional image is a holographic image. 
     
     
       3. A three dimensional display system as recited in claim 1 wherein the light source is a laser light source. 
     
     
       4. A three dimensional display system, comprising: a) a modulator generating a diffraction grating corresponding to a three dimensional image;   b) a light source providing light signals that pass through the diffraction grating created at the modulator to generate modulated light signals;   c) demagnifying means demagnifying the modulated light signals from the modulatpr;   d) optics which aerially image the demagnified modulated light signals to display for viewing the three dimensional image produced by the demagnified output; and   e) horizontal scanning optics for scanning the modulator output to continuously splice together horizontal segments of the three dimensional image.   
     
     
       5. A three dimensional display system, comprising: a) a modulator for generating a diffraction grating corresponding to a three dimensional image;   b) a light source providing light signals that pass through the diffraction grating created at the modulator to generate modulated light signals;   c) a demagnifying means for demagnifying the modulated light signals from the modulatpr;   d) an imaging lens for aerially imaging the demagnified output to view the three dimensional image produced by the demagnified output;   e) horizontal scanning optics for scanning the modulator output to continuously splice together horizontal segments of the three dimensional image; and   f) vertical scanning optic means for vertically positioning the output of the modulator in the three dimensional image.   
     
     
       6. A holographic display system, comprising: a) a laser light source providing laser light signals;   b) a data processing system providing electrical signals that encode a hologram which lacks vertical parallax;   c) an acoustic-optic modulator converting the electrical signals into corresponding acoustic signals and generating a diffraction pattern correlating to the hologram using the acoustic signals such that a three dimensional holographic image is generated by the laser light signals as they pass through the modulator;   d) a demagnifier for demagnifying the holographic image generated by the acoustic-optic modulator; and   e) optics displaying the demagnified holographic image light signals from the modulator, the displayed holographic image being an aerial image for viewing of a three dimensional image.   
     
     
       7. A holographic display system as recited in claim 6 wherein the acousto-optic modulator comprises a TeO 2  crystal. 
     
     
       8. A holographic display system as recited in claim 6 wherein the laser light source emits monochromatic laser light signals. 
     
     
       9. A holographic display system, comprising: a) a laser light source providing laser light signals;   b) a data processing system providing electrical signals that encode a hologram;   c) an acoustic-optic modulator converting the electrical signals into corresponding acoustic signals and generating a diffraction pattern correlating to the hologram using the acoustic signals such that a three dimensional holographic image is generated by the laser light signals as they pass through the modulator;   d) a demagnifier for demagnifying the holographic image generated by the acousto-optic modulator; and   e) optics displaying the demagnified holographic image light signals from the modulator, the displayed holographic image being an aerial image for viewing of a three dimensional image, wherein field of view of the holographic image is at least 15 degrees.   
     
     
       10. A holographic display system, comprising: a) a laser light source for supplying laser light;   b) a data processing system for providing a sequence of electrical signals that encode a hologram;   c) a transducer for converting the sequence of electrical signals into a sequence of corresponding acoustic signals;   d) an acousto-optic modulator for receiving the laser light and modulating the laser light by applying each of the acoustic signals in sequence from the transducer across a medium through which the light signals pass to produce a sequence of segments of a holographic image;   e) a demagnifier for demagnifying the segments of the holographic image output in sequence by the acousto-optic modulator;   f) a horizontal scanner synchronized with the acousto-optic modulator for scanning the acousto-optic modulator to sequentially and continuously splice the segments of the holographic image output from the acousto optic modulator in proper horizontal positions in the holographic image;   g) a vertical scanner synchronized with the horizontal scanner and the acousto-optic modulator for positioning the slices of the holographic image output from the acousto-optic modulator in proper vertical positions in the holographic image; and   h) a viewing lens for aerially viewing the holographic image.   
     
     
       11. A holographic display system as recited in claim 10 wherein the horizontal scanner is a revolving polygonal mirror. 
     
     
       12. A holographic display system as recited in claim 10 wherein the vertical scanner is a galvanometric scanner. 
     
     
       13. A holographic display system as recited in claim 10 wherein the acousto-optic modulator comprises a TeO 2  crystal. 
     
     
       14. A holographic display system as recited in claim 10 wherein the laser emits monochromatic laser light signals. 
     
     
       15. A holographic display system as recited in claim 10 wherein the laser source HeNe laser. 
     
     
       16. A holographic display system as recited in claim 10 wherein the holographic image is a three dimensional image. 
     
     
       17. A holographic display system as recited in claim 10 wherein the data processing system is programmed such that the holographic image is viewed as moving in the viewing lens. 
     
     
       18. A holographic display system as recited in claim 10 wherein the hologram provided by the data processing system is such that the holographic image is composed of distinct luminous points. 
     
     
       19. A holographic display system as recited in claim 10 wherein the hologram provided by the data processing system is such that the holographic image exhibits occlusion effects. 
     
     
       20. A holographic display as recited in claim 10 wherein the laser source is a continuous laser source. 
     
     
       21. A method of three dimensional imaging, comprising the steps of: a) shining light signals from a light source onto an acousto-optic modulator;   b) applying acoustic signals across an acousto-optic modulator to produce changes in indexes of refraction of portions of the modulator through which the light signals pass such that the light signals are modulated in the modulator to generate a resulting three dimensional image;   c) demagnifying the three dimensional image to increase an angle of diffraction of the image;   d) vertically scanning the modulated light; and   e) viewing the three dimensional image light signals from the modulator using a viewing lens.   
     
     
       22. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein the three dimensional image is a holographic image. 
     
     
       23. A method of displaying a holographic image, comprising the steps of: a) providing electrical signals from a data processing system that encode a hologram;   b) converting the electrical signals to corresponding acoustic signals;   c) applying the acoustic signals across an acousto-optic modulator to alter indexes of refraction at points of the acousto-optic modulator;   d) shining a laser beam through the acousto-optic modulator to produce a holographic image that is generated by modulation of the light beam due to alteration of the indexes of refraction of points of the acousto-optic modulator;   e) vertically scanning the modulated light;   f) demagnifying the holographic image with a demagnifier; and   g) aerially viewing the demagnified holographic image light from the modulator through a viewing lens.   
     
     
       24. A method of holographic display, comprising the steps of: a) providing a sequence of electrical signals from a data processing system that encode portions of a hologram;   b) converting each of the electrical signals in the sequence into corresponding acoustic signals;   c) applying sequentially each of the acoustic signals across an acousto-optic modulator to alter indexes of refraction at points of the acousto-optic modulator;   d) shining a laser beam through the acousto-optic modulator to produce for each acoustic signal a segment of the holographic image that is generated by modulation of the laser beam induced by the alteration of the indexes of refraction of points of the acousto-optic modulator;   e) demagnifying each resulting slice of the holographic image;   f) horizontally splicing each segment of the holographic image in a proper horizontal position using a horizontal scanning means;   g) vertically positioning each slice of the holographic image using a vertical positioning means; and   h) viewing the demagnified holographic image light from the modulator through a viewing lens.   
     
     
       25. A holographic display system, comprising: a) a laser light source for providing laser light signals;   b) a data processing system for providing electrical signals that encode a hologram;   c) an acousto-optical modulator for converting the electrical signals into corresponding acoustic signals and for generating a diffraction pattern correlating to the hologram using the acoustic signals such that a holographic image is generated by the laser light signals as they pass through the modulator;   d) a demagnifier for demagnifying the holographic image generated by the acousto-optic modulator; and   e) a viewing lens for aerially viewing the holographic image with a field of view of at least 15°.   
     
     
       26. A holographic display system as claimed in claim 25 further comprising vertical scanning optics for vertically positioning the output of the modulator in a three-dimensional image. 
     
     
       27. A three dimensional display apparatus comprising: a modulator generating a holographic diffraction pattern corresponding to a three dimensional image;   a light source providing light signals that pass through the diffraction grating generated at the modulator to generate modulated light signals; and   optics imaging the modulated light signals to display for viewing a three dimensional image, the three dimensional image being an aerial image having a field of view of at least 15°.   
     
     
       28. A three dimensional display system as recited in claim 27 further comprising a demagnifier for demagnifying the modulated light signals. 
     
     
       29. A three dimensional display system as recited in claim 27 wherein the modulator is an electrically driven acousto-optic modulator. 
     
     
       30. A three dimensional display apparatus comprising: a modulator generating a holographic diffraction pattern corresponding to a three dimensional image;   a light source providing light signals that pass through the diffraction grating generated at the modulator to generate modulated light signals;   optics imaging the modulated light signals to display for viewing a three dimensional image, the three dimensional image being an aerial image; and   vertical scanning optics for vertically positioning the output of the modulator in the three dimensional image.   
     
     
       31. A three dimensional display as recited in claim 30 further comprising horizontal scanning optics for scanning the modulator output to continuously splice together horizontal segments of the three dimensional display. 
     
     
       32. A three dimensional display apparatus comprising: a modulator generating a holographic diffraction pattern corresponding to a three dimensional image which lacks vertical parallax;   a light source providing light signals that pass through the diffraction grating generated at the modulator to generate modulated light signals; and   optics imaging the modulated light signals to display for viewing a three dimensional image, the three dimensional image being an aerial image.   
     
     
       33. A method of displaying a three dimensional image comprising: electro-optically generating a holographic diffraction pattern which lacks vertical parallax;   modulating a light source with the holographic diffraction pattern; and   aerially imaging the modulated light to provide a three dimensional display for viewing.   
     
     
       34. A method as recited in claim 33 further comprising the step of demagnifying the modulated light. 
     
     
       35. A method as recited in claim 33 wherein a holographic diffraction pattern is generated in an acousto-optic modulator. 
     
     
       36. A method of displaying a three dimensional image comprising: electro-optically generating a holographic diffraction pattern;   modulating a light source with the holographic diffraction pattern;   aerially imaging the modulated light to provide a three dimensional display for viewing; and   vertically scanning the modulated light.   
     
     
       37. A method as recited in claim 36 further comprising horizontally scanning the modulated light to continuously splice together horizontal segments of the three dimensional image. 
     
     
       38. A method of displaying a three dimensional image comprising: electro-optically generating a holographic diffraction pattern;   modulating a light source with the holographic diffraction pattern; and   aerially imaging the modulated light to provide a three dimensional display for viewing, the field of view of the three dimensional image being at least 15°.   
     
     
       39. A three-dimensional display system comprising: a) a modulator generating a diffraction grating corresponding to a three dimensional image;   b) a light source providing light signals that pass through the diffraction grating created at the modulator to generate modulated light signals;   c) demagnifying means demagnifying the modulated light signals from the modulator;   d) optics which aerially image the demagnified modulated light signals to display for viewing the three dimensional image produced by the demagnified output; and   e) vertical scanning optics for vertically positioning the output of the modulator in the three-dimensional image.   
     
     
       40. A holographic display system comprising a) a laser light source providing laser light signals;   b) a data processing system providing electrical signals that encode a hologram;   c) an acousto-optic modulator converting the electrical signals into corresponding acoustic signals and generating a diffraction pattern correlating to the hologram using the acoustic signals such that a three dimensional holographic image is generated by the laser light signals as they pass through the modulator;   d) a demagnifier for demagnifying the holographic image generated by the acoustic-optic modulator;   e) optics displaying the demagnified holographic image light signals from the modulator, the displayed holographic image being an aerial image for viewing of a three dimensional image; and   f) vertical scanning optics for vertically positioning the output of the modulator in a three-dimensional image.